Thermodynamic approach for territorial planning: dofferent aspects of the sustainable use of resources and land. A case study from the SPIn-Eco Project

Managing the resources, both natural and manufactured, is a key problem for every modern society. Any environmental program, both at a local and a global level, has to pay attention to the correct use of them in time. According to the statements of Herman Daly, there are some resources-use criteria to follow in order to reach a sustainable society which is founded on a sustainable economic basis as well. The paper presents an environmental assessment of the use of resources at a local level by a thermodynamic based methodology: emergy evaluation, introduced by Howard Odum. The results of the analysis indicate some critical points and then different path of a feasible future development. The conclusions are then supported by greenhouse gas inventory and ecological footprint results. SPIn-Eco project is an ambitious triennial research program with the purpose of assessing the environmental conditions of the Province of Siena (Tuscany, central Italy) and its 36 municipalities. This paper presents the analysis of one of them, Colle Val d'Elsa, which is located in the most industrialised and dynamic area of the whole Province of Siena. On the basis of the over mentioned considerations about the use of resources, the issues that mainly characterise Colle Val d'Elsa are agriculture, industry and urban planning. The discussion section deals with the environmental, social and economic aspects of them under a sustainable perspective. It points out the necessity of emphasizing the qualitative aspects of resources use rather than the quantitative ones and, at the same time, the preference for development rather than growth.